US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured here alongside Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, urged Turkey to stick to ceasefire lines established in 2019. AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured here alongside Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, urged Turkey to stick to ceasefire lines established in 2019. AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured here alongside Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, urged Turkey to stick to ceasefire lines established in 2019. AFP
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, pictured here alongside Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, urged Turkey to stick to ceasefire lines established in 2019. AFP

Blinken warns Turkey against launching offensive against Kurdish forces in Syria


  • English
  • Arabic

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned Nato ally Turkey on Wednesday against carrying out a military offensive in Syria, saying it would put the region at risk.

Mr Blinken urged Turkey to stick to ceasefire lines established in 2019 after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan renewed threats to “clean up” two northern Syrian cities of Kurdish fighters.

“It's something that we would oppose,” the top US diplomat told a joint news alongside Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Washington.

“The concern that we have is that any new offensive would undermine regional stability [and] provide malign actors with opportunities to exploit instability.”

The US has partnered with the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), a majority-Kurdish fighting force, to defeat ISIS in war-battered Syria.

But Turkey considers the Syrian-Kurdish fighters to be part of the PKK, a separatist organisation labelled a terrorist group by Ankara.

“We continue effectively to take the fight through partners to … ISIS within Syria and we don't want to see anything that jeopardises the efforts that are made to continue to keep ISIS in the box that we put it in,” Mr Blinken said.

A member of the border guard force loyal to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) patrols the area. AFP
A member of the border guard force loyal to the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) patrols the area. AFP

On Wednesday in Ankara, Mr Erdogan said Turkey would rid northern Syria's Tal Rifaat and Manbij areas of “terrorists”, confirming the targets of the new incursion for the first time and saying the offensive would continue into other regions.

His comments, made in a speech to members of his ruling AKP, came after he pledged to engage in a new military incursion on Turkey's southern border.

“We are going into the new phase of our determination to form a 30-kilometre deep safe zone along our southern border. We will clear Tal Rifaat and Manbij of terrorists, and we will do the same to other regions step-by-step,” he said.

“Let's see who supports these legitimate steps by Turkey and who hinders them,” Mr Erdogan added.

The SDF said that such an operation would suspend the fight against ISIS.

“The SDF has been expecting a possible battle for a while now,” said Farhad Shami, a spokesman for the Kurdish-led force.

“In the event of an attack, we will pause our war against [ISIS] and start military measures against the Turkish invasion,” he told AFP.

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Stamp duty timeline

December 2014: Former UK finance minister George Osbourne reforms stamp duty, replacing the slab system with a blended rate scheme, with the top rate increasing to 12 per cent from 10 per cent:
Up to £125,000 - 0%; £125,000 to £250,000 – 2%; £250,000 to £925,000 – 5%; £925,000 to £1.5m: 10%; Over £1.5m – 12%

April 2016: New 3% surcharge applied to any buy-to-let properties or additional homes purchased.

July 2020: Rishi Sunak unveils SDLT holiday, with no tax to pay on the first £500,000, with buyers saving up to £15,000.

March 2021: Mr Sunak decides the fate of SDLT holiday at his March 3 budget, with expectations he will extend the perk unti June.

April 2021: 2% SDLT surcharge added to property transactions made by overseas buyers.

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

Abu Dhabi Equestrian Club race card

5pm: Abu Dhabi Fillies Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
5.30pm: Abu Dhabi Colts Classic (PA) Prestige; Dh110,000; 1,400m
6pm: Maiden (PA); Dh80,000; 1,600m
6.30pm: Abu Dhabi Championship (PA) Listed; Dh180,000; 1,600m
7pm: Wathba Stallions Cup (PA) Handicap; Dh70,000; 2,200m
7.30pm: Handicap (PA); Dh100,000; 2,400m

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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW

Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman

Director: Jesse Armstrong

Rating: 3.5/5

Bridgerton%20season%20three%20-%20part%20one
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Founder: Ahmed Al Qubaisi

Based: Abu Dhabi

Founded: January 2019

Number of employees: 10

Sector: Technology/Social media 

Funding to date: Estimated $300,000 from Hub71 in-kind support

 

Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Wicked: For Good

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater

Rating: 4/5

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated

Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona

German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

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Company%20profile
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MATCH INFO

Manchester City 3 (Silva 8' &15, Foden 33')

Birmginahm City 0

Man of the match Bernado Silva (Manchester City)

MATCH INFO

Manchester City 1 (Gundogan 56')

Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Solomon 69')

Updated: June 01, 2022, 5:19 PM